Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDP16231’

ABSTRACT

A new Dianthus plant particularly distinguished by red flowers, good branching, and an upright habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDP16231’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus, botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDP16231’. ‘KLEDP16231’ originated from a controlled cross between the proprietary female parent ‘DCP-2007-0057’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent ‘DCP-2009-0209’ (unpatented) in May 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany. A single plant was selected in June 2012 and designated ‘KLEDP16231’.

In August 2012, ‘KLEDP16231’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings. ‘KLEDP16231’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation in Stuttgart, Germany via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Red flowers;     -   2. Good branching; and     -   3. An upright habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of a plant approximately 8 weeks old and grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany. The photograph shows the whole plant, including the flowers and foliage and buds and was taken in April 2016 in Stuttgart, Germany. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDP16231’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected in April 2017 on 7-month old plants grown in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.         -   Botanical.—Dianthus caryophyllus.         -   Common.—Pot carnation.         -   Designation.—‘KLEDP16231’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Dianthus variety             ‘DCP-2007-0057’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary Dianthus variety             ‘DCP-2009-0209’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Plant form.—Upright, potted plant.         -   Plant height.—16.0 cm to 18.0 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—20.0 cm to 22.0 cm.         -   Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings, stem cutting.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—14 to 16 days.         -   Root description.—White, fine.         -   Rooting habit (shape).—Lanceolate. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Number of lateral branches.—8 to 12.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Length.—Approximately 17.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Number of internodes per branch/stem.—4 to 6.         -   Node length.—0.4 cm to 0.6 cm.         -   Node diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 137A.         -   Branch/stem appearance.—Solid. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, sessile.         -   Length.—7.0 cm to 9.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 144A. Lower surface:             RHS 143C.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface:             RHS 137C.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS             137C. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Round, double, small sprays.         -   Fragrance.—Present.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to fall.         -   Position of flowers relative to the foliage.—Moderately             above.         -   Number of flowers per spray.—4 to 7.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—10 to 14 days.         -   Buds.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm to             1.2 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS 137B and RHS 144A.             Extrusion of the styles at the bud stage: Absent.         -   Corolla.—Quantity of petals and arrangement: 20 to 25,             whorled. Corolla height: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Corolla diameter:             0.8 cm to 1.2 cm. Petal length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Petal             width: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Petal shape: Spoon-shaped. Petal             apex: Obtuse. Petal base: Acute. Petal margin: Crenate.             Depth of petal margin: Medium. Petal texture (both upper and             lower surfaces): Smooth. Petal luster (both surfaces):             Absent. Petal color: Immature: Upper surface: RHS 42A. Lower             surface: RHS 47B. Mature: Upper surface: RHS 47A. Lower             surface: RHS 47C.         -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals and arrangement: Composed of 5             sepals. Shape: Campanulate. Calyx height: 2.0 cm to 2.4 cm.             Calyx diameter (at the apex): 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm. Sepal             length: 1.0 cm to 1.2 cm. Sepal diameter: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm.             Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire.             Sepal luster (both surfaces): Absent. Sepal texture (both             upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Sepal arrangement:             Whorled. Sepal color: Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower             surface: RHS 137D. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—17.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 137A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Moderate. Filament length: 0.6             cm to 1.0 cm. Filament color: RHS 157B. Anther length:             0.3 cm. Anther diameter: 0.1 cm. Anther color: RHS 155B.             Pollen amount: Absent.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Pistil length: 0.1 cm.             Style length: 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm. Style color: RHS 157C.             Stigma shape: Filamentous. Stigma color: RHS 62B. Ovary             size: 0.6 cm to 0.8 cm. Ovary shape: Oval. Ovary color: RHS             150B and RHS 144B. -   Fruit and seed set: Seed is sometimes observed, but no information     on the seed is available. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDP16231’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘KLEDP16231’ ‘DCP-2007-0057’ ‘DCP-2009-0209’ Amount of pollen Absent Sparse Abundant

‘KLEDP16231’ can be compared to the commercial Dianthus variety ‘SuperTrouper Antonio’, also known as ‘KLEDP13155’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,721). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDP16231’ ‘SuperTrouper Antonio’ Branching Good branching Less branching Vigor Vigorous, for 14 Less vigorous, for 10 cm to 16 cm pots cm to 12 cm pots 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plant designated ‘KLEDP16231’ as illustrated and described herein. 